A Japanese student's affection with China

Coming to China to learn pure Chinese

Recently, Japanese student Hisada Eiji came to the Memorial Hall of the War of Chinese People's Resistance against Japanese Aggression near Lugou Bridge, also known as the Marco Polo Bridge in Beijing, and visited the grand exhibition of Great Victory -- In Commemoration of the 60th Anniversary of the Victory of Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and Global Anti-Fascism War.

Hisada Eiji wrote on the visitors' book, "I have learnt a lot about the past, and it is very good to learn history through this way. I hope more Japanese can come here, and hope Japan and China can strengthen their friendship." Meanwhile, he also noted the history should not be forgotten, but people in both countries should have their feet firmly planted at today, and have their eyes in the future.

Hisada Eiji first came to China on Oct 1st, 1999, the day that coincided with the 50th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. At that time, Beijing was in a scene of bustle and excitement. The friendship and hospitality of the Chinese people deeply impressed him.

Hisada Eiji had several bosom Chinese friends in his company when he was working in Japan. His Chinese friends taught him Chinese and told him something about China in spare times. From then on, he was attracted by China and started to learn Chinese hard. He also practiced oral Chinese and listening comprehension with the Chinese programs broadcasted via NHK Television Station in Japan.

During his study of Chinese he got to know a teacher, who was from China's Tianjin University of Finance & Economic and taught Chinese in Japan. That teacher recommended him to go to study in China and provided him with detailed information about the study in China. Hisada Eiji gave up excellent wages and benefits in a well-known enterprise in Japan and finally came to China in 2003, starting his career as a student in School of Humanities under Tianjin University of Finance & Economic.

Making friends with Chinese classmates

Hisada Eiji could not get used to the life style when he just came to Tianjin. He did not know Chinese students in the university and seldom communicated with them. Therefore he was very lonely at first. However, one semester later, he not only became acquainted with his classmates but also made friends with them. In his own words, "I did not know all of you in the first semester, very lonely indeed, and I felt one semester was as long as ten years; but we became good friends in the second semester, and I felt this semester as short as two weeks!"

Hisada Eiji impressed everybody around him with his actions. He voluntarily taught 120 students who majored in Japanese language in the Foreign Languages Department under Tianjing University of Finance & Economic. Meanwhile he also taught those Japanese majors in neighbouring Tianjin University of Science and Technology. Hisada Eiji held a Sino-Japan Exchange on a once-a-week basis, which has drawn many Chinese students interested in Japan and Japanese culture. At the exchange, Chinese students communicated with Japanese students and Japanese students improved their oral Chinese and listening comprehension through the activity.

Hisada Eiji often invited his Chinese friends to his apartment, and made "Hisada style" Japanese gourmet for them. He said he had once invited ten friends, the most ever, to his home. During his spare time, Hisada Eiji bought cloth, with which he made many bags and cloth dolls and sent his "handicrafts" to his Chinese friends. Now many of his friends carry the lovely bags he made.

Admiring Zhou Enlai the most

"The Chinese I admire most is Zhou Enlai," said Hisada Eiji. In his mind, Zhou Enlai is a very attractive diplomat and he used "understanding" to describe Premier Zhou. He held Premier Zhou was very kindly and approachable. He not only considered problems from Chinese angle, but also from foreigners' view, which was great.

"I adore my father very much as well. His influence is still great on me though he has passed away," said Hisada Eiji. His father used to do manual work, the hardest and the most wearisome work that no one was willing to do, at the age of a middle school student. "My father has a great sense of obligation and is very strong." After pondering for a while, Hisada Eiji chose a Chinese character "Xia", meaning a person adept in martial arts and given to chivalrous conduct in olden times, to describe his father.

"I have bought my own flat in Tianjin," said Hisada Eiji happily. He used to work on design in Japan, and knew a lot about household renovation. He was very pride when mentioning his flat, because the flat was fitted up by his own. He planned to stay in China upon his graduation, and owed to marry a Chinese girl, starting a new life and taking root here in China.

By People's Daily Online